Weighing scale

ABSTRACT

A container of material is weighed on apparatus including a movable platform which is supported by an adjustable balance mechanism. An indicator is connected to move with the balance mechanism and is positioned adjacent a graduated scale to provide a readout of the net weight of the material when the container of material is placed on the platform and the tare weight of the container when the container of material is removed from the platform. The indicator consists of a platelike vertical shutter which moves vertically behind a faceplate having a transparent horizontal slot. The shutter has multiple transparent color zones which cooperate with a light source to indicate the tare and net weights by lines of different colors and corresponding in length to the weights. A tare knob is positioned adjacent the platform and provides for adjusting the balance mechanism to accommodate various containers having different tare weights.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Roger W. Riehl Troy, Ohio [21] Appl.No. 40,257 [22] Filed May 25, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73]Assignee Allied Technology Inc.

Troy, Ohio [54] WEIGHING SCALE 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl..... 177/165 [51] Int. Cl GO Ig 13/14, 601 g 23/14 [50]Field of Search 177/164, 165,l77,178,173;353/40,41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,233 8/1932 Bryce177/164 2,085,345 6/1937 Tuttle et al.. 177/165 3,200,896 8/1965 Bell eta1... 177/178 UX 3,387,676 6/1968 Porter 177/165 X lllllll AssistantExaminer-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French & BuggABSTRACT: A container of material is weighed on apparatus including amovable platform which is supported by an adjustable balance mechanism.An indicator is connected to move with the balance mechanism and ispositioned adjacent a graduated scale to provide a readout of the netweight of the material when the container of material is placed on theplatform and the tare weight of the container when the container ofmaterial is removed from the platform. The indicator consists of aplatelike vertical shutter which moves vertically behind a faceplatehaving a transparent horizontal slot. The shutter has multipletransparent color zones which cooperate with a light source to indicatethe tare and net weights by lines of different colors and correspondingin length to the weights. A tare knob is positioned adjacent theplatform and provides for adjusting the balance mechanism to accommodatevarious containers having different tare weights.

\ PATENTEU JAN? 1 1572 SHEET 1 0F 3 FIG-2 45 5O 55 6O 65 Q) INVENTORROGER W. RIEHL A TTOR/VE Y3 PATENTEU m1 1 1972 slesalesm SHEET 3 [1F 3BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In some businesses, it is necessary to takeperiodic inventories of liquid or solid materials which are storedwithin a number of different containers, many of which are partiallyemptied. For such inventory purposes, it is desirable to employ aweighing scale which can be set according to the tare weight of eachcontainer so that the indicated value of the scale represents the netweight of the material within the container. An example of such aweighing scale is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,413, wherein thecircular face plate of the scale is adjusted or dialed according to thepredetermined tare weight of the container.

One type of business in which the taking of periodic inventories of aliquid material is desirable, is in the operation of a cocktail loungewhere numerous bottles of liquors and cordials of different brands aremaintained. Usually, a large portion of the inventory consists ofpartially emptied or opened bottles of liquors and cordials, and eachbottle has a different tare weight. To minimize the time required totake inventory, it is highly desirable to be able to determine quicklyand conveniently the net weight of the liquor or cordial in each openbottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to animproved weighing scale which is particularly adapted for quickly andconveniently determining the net and tare weights of a container ofmaterial and which is ideally suited for use in taking periodicinventories of the open bottles of various liquors and cordialsmaintained at a cocktail lounge. As one particular feature, the weighingscale of the invention provides for conveniently reading on a graduatedscale the net weight of a material within a container when the containeris placed on the scale platform and for reading on the same graduatedscale the tare weight of the container when the container of materi alis removed from the platform. As another feature, the weighing scaleprovides for differentiating between the average values of specificgravity of cordials and the average values of specific gravity ofliquors by use of either of two corresponding graduated scales.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a weighingscale includes a boxlike housing having a front vertical wall or faceplate which defines a horizontally extending transparent slot.Graduations are provided along the top of the slot for bottles of liquorand along the bottom of the slot for bottles of cordials. A platelikevertical shutter is supported for vertical movement directly behind theslot by a spring loaded parallelogram balance mechanism which alsosupports a platform projecting from the top wall of the housmg.

An exposed knob is provided for adjusting the spring bias on the balancemechanism, and a damper is provided to prevent the mechanism fromvibrating. The shutter is provided with multiple color transparent zonesseparated by a black opaque zone of V-shaped configuration so that theshutter cooperates with the slot to provide one color line whichrepresents the tare weight of the container and another color line whichrepresents the net weight of the material or contents of the container.A light source is positioned behind the shutter to assure that the colorlines are clearly visible.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS removed;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the scale with a portion of the front wall orface plate broken away and taken generally on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken generally on the line 44 of FIG. 2 with aportion of the shutter broken away;

FIG. 5 is a section taken generally on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal components of theweighing scale shown in FIGS. 2-5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a weighing scaleconstructed in accordance with the invention and which includes a sheetmetal boxlike housing 10 having a top wall 12, opposite end walls 13 anda rear wall (not shown). The housing 10 also includes a U shaped frameportion 15 which cooperates with a mating frame portion 16 formed as apart of the bottom wall to define a rectangular opening 18. Arectangular opening 19 is formed within the top wall 12 of the housingfor receiving a formed sheet metal rectangular platform 20 having adownwardly extending peripheral skirt 21 which extends through theopening A frame structure 25 is positioned within the housing 10 andincludes a set of spaced vertical side plates or walls 26 and 28 (FIGS.2 and 6) which are rigidly secured to a baseplate 30 by a series ofscrews 31. The baseplate 30 is secured to the bottom wall (not shown inFIG. 2) of the housing 10 by a series of longitudinally spaced screws(now shown), and a series of five horizontal support posts 34 projectforwardly from the plate 28 to support a front wall or face plate 35which is retained by a series of screws 36. The face plate 35 ispositioned adjacent the frame portions 16 and 18 of the housing 10 tocover the opening 18 and is formed of a transparent sheet plastic whichis coated by a silk screening process on its inner surface to define anarrow horizontally extending transparent slot 38.

A linear scale 40 extends along the top of the slot 38 and is graduatedin ounces from 0 to 65 ounces with additional interval markingscorresponding to a fifth of a gallon, a quart and a half gallon. As willbe explained later, the scale 40 is particularly useful for weighingbottles of liquor. Another linear scale extends along the bottom of theslot 38 and is graduated in ounces from 0 to 35 ounces with intervalmarkings corresponding to a fifth of a gallon and a quart. The scale 45is adapted for weighing bottles of cordials.

The platform 20 is supported by a weight sensing or balance mechanismincluding a generally triangular-shaped vertical plate 46 (FIG. 5) whichprojects upwardly into the platform 20 and secured to the platform by apair of screws 47. The plate 46 is mounted on vertically spaced pins 51and 52 which extend through corresponding antifriction bearings 53 (FIG.6) recessed within the plate 46. The upper cross pin 51 is supported bya pair of link members or arms 54 which are rigidly mounted on a crosspin or shaft 55 rotatably supported by antifriction bearings 56 mountedwithin aligned holes formed within the side plates 26 and 28 of theframe 25. The lower cross pin 52 is supported by a pair of lower linkmembers or arms 58 rigidly secured to a lower pin or shaft 55 which isalso rotatably supported by antifriction bearings 56 mounted withinaligned holes formed within the side plates 26 and 28.

A metal strap 62 (FIG. 5 is confined between the platform 20 and theupper edge of the support plate 46 and has a projecting end portionwhich supports a wire formed hook member 64. A pneumatic dampermechanism 65 is mounted on the base wall 30 and includes a cylindricalcup 66 which is secured to the base wall by a screw 67. An invertedcuplike cap 68 is slidably mounted within the cup 66, and a wire formedlink rod 69 connects the cap 68 to the hook member 64 so that themechanism 65 is effective to dampen pneum atically the movement of theplatform 20.

A screw 72 (FIG. 5) is threaded into the vertical edge of the supportplate 46, and a tension spring 75 connects the screw 72 to thecantilevered end portion of a bar 76 slidably mounted on spaced verticalguide rods 78. The upper ends of the guide rods 78 are rigidly securedto a cross plate 81 which cooperates with the baseplate 30 and a seriesof rods 83 to space the sidewalls 26 and 28 in parallel relation. Thelower ends of the guide rods 78 are rigidly connected by a plate 84having a recess 86 for receiving the lower end of a vertical adjustingscrew 88 which is threaded through the plate 76. A knob 90 is mounted onthe upper end of the adjusting screw 88 so that the screw may beconveniently rotated to raise and lower the plate 76 for adjusting theupward tension of the spring 75 on the platform support plate 46.

Referring to FIG. 4, an elongated arm 94 is positioned in front of thewall 28 and is rigidly secured to the forward projecting end portions ofthe upper cross-shafts or pins 51 and 55 so that the arm slopes upwardlyto the right. A lower arm 96 is rigidly secured to the projectingforward end portion of the lower cross-shaft or pin 55 and extendsparallel to the arm 28. Thus the arms 94 and 96 are connected to pivotwith the arms 54 and 58 and form a parallelogram linkage system. Arectangular platelike vertical indicating member or shutter 100 has itsright edge portion (FIG. 4) secured by screws 101 to correspondingantifriction bearings 103 mounted on the adjacent end portions of thearms 94 and 96. The shutter 100 is preferably formed of a rigidtransparent sheet plastic, and its front face is coated by asilk-screening process to form a semitransparent upper blue zone 105(FIG. 3) and a semitransparent lower red zone 106 which are separated byan opaque black zone 108. The latter opaque zone 108 is defined by edgelines 109 and 110 (FIG. 3) which converge to a point adjacent the leftedge of the shutter 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shutter 100 is positioned directly behind theface plate 35, and a fluorescent lamp 115 is supported by the sidewall28 in back of the shutter 100. A transformer 118 is mounted on the rearsidewall 26 for supplying power to the fluorescent lamp 115 through astater 119 which is mounted on the upper edge portion of the forwardsidewall 28 so that it is accessible by removing the platform 20. A pairof eye members 123 are mounted on the left edge portion (FIG. 3) of theshutter 100 and have horizontal slots for receiving a vertical guidewire 125 which extends between two right-angle brackets 126 adjustablysecured to the front sidewall 28 of the frame 25 by corresponding screws127.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, an adjusting screw 130 is threaded throughthe base wall 30 of the frame 25 and carries a resilient plastic cap 132to form a bottom stop or limit to the downward movement of the supportplate 46, the platform and the shutter 100. A similar stop screw 134(FIG. 2) is threaded into the upper cross plate 81 of the frame and alsocarries a resilient plastic cap 136 which is adapted to engage one ofthe upper support arms 54 to form a stop or limit to the upward movementof the plate 46, the platform 20 and the shutter 100.

To use the weighing scale described above for determining the net weightof an inventory of liquors or cordials, electrical power is supplied tothe transformer 118 through a power supply cord (not shown) to energizethe fluorescent lamp 115. To determine the tare weight of a bottle whichis full of liquor, such as a fifth of a gallon, the bottle is placed onthe platform 20, and the tare knob 90 is rotated until the end of theblue line within the slot 38 is located at the mark on the faceplatescale 40 indicating a fifth. That is, the know 90 is adjusted until theedge line 109 crosses the graduation of 25.6 ounces on the scale 40.When the bottle is lifted from the platform 20, the blue line diminishesto zero, and a red line appears in the slot 38. Where the red line endsor where the edge line 110 crosses the slot 38, indicates the tareweight of the bottle.

The tare weight of an empty bottle may be quickly determined simply byplacing the bottle on a platform 20 and rotating the tare knob 90 untileither the blue line or the red line disappears within the slot 38. Thisindicates that the point of the black opaque zone 108 is located at theend of the slot 38. When the empty bottle is removed from the platform20, a red line will appear in the slot 38 to indicate the new weight ofthe bottle.

When it is desired to determine the net weight of liquor within apartially emptied or open bottle, the tare knob 90 is rotated until thevalue of the tare weight, which has been previously determined fromeither a full or empty bottle, is indicated by a red line within theslot 38. The open bottle is then placed on the platform 20, causing thered line to disappear and a blue line to appear within the slot 38 toindicate the net weight in ounces of the liquor remaining in the bottle.To determine the net weight of a cordial within a bottle, the sameprocedure as described above for liquor is used except that the bottomgraduated scale 45 is employed instead of the upper graduated scale 40.The difference in the graduated scales 40 and 45 corresponds to thedifference in the specific gravities between a liquor and a cordial.

From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that aweighing device or scale constructed in accordance with the inventionprovides desirable features and advantages. For example, the scaleprovides for quickly and conveniently determining both the net weightand the tare weight of a container of material. Furthermore, both thenet weight and the tare weight values are indicated on the samegraduated readout scale thereby simplifying the use of the instrument.The linear graduated scale 40 or 45 is also convenient to read, and thefluorescent light 115 cooperates with the multiple color shutter 100 toprovide for a clear and distinct linear readout of the net and tareweights.

Another important feature is provided by the conveniently located tareknob for adjusting the spring tension exerted on the support or balancemechanism for the platform 20 and the shutter 100. That is, a fewrevolutions of the tare knob 90 is effective to extend either the blueline or the red line within the slot 38 the full length of the graduatedscale 40. Thus the tare weight of a container can be quickly enteredinto the balance system, or the balance system can be quickly adjustedfor different containers having different tare weights.

While the operation of a weighing scale constructed in accordance withthe invention is explained above in connection with the weighing of abottle of liquor or cordial, it is to be understood that it is withinthe scope of the invention to adapt the weighing scale for determiningthe net and tare weights of any container or receptacle of material orfor merely weighing a material or objects. Furthermore, while thestructure herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothis precise structure, and that changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved weighing device adapted for weighing a material within acontainer, comprising movable weightsensing means for supporting acontainer of material, a readout scale having progressively increasingweight graduations commencing from a zero position, indicating meanspositioned adjacent said readout scale, means for causing relativemovement between said readout scale and said indicating means inresponse to movement of said weight sensing means, said indicating meansbeing effective to move from said zero position upwardly along saidreadout scale when said container of material is placed on saidweight-sensing means and to indicate directly on said readout scale thenet weight of the material within said container, said indicating meansalso being effective to move from said zero position upwardly along saidreadout scale when said container of material is removed from saidweight-sensing means and to indicate directly on the same said readoutscale the tare weight of said container, and adjusting means for causingrelative movement between said indicating means and said readout scalewithout changing the weight on said weight-sensing means.

2. A weighing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said readout scalehas graduations in ounces for indicating the net and tare weights of abottle of liquor, a second readout scale extending adjacent the firstsaid readout scale and also having graduations in ounces, and saidindicating means cooperating with second readout scale for indicatingthe tare and net weights of a bottle of cordial.

3. An improved weighing device adapted for weighing a material within acontainer, comprising a housing having a faceplate, means defining alinear substantially transparent slot within said faceplate, a linearreadout scale extending adjacent said slot, a movable indicating memberpositioned behind said slot and having means for providing within saidslot a visual line which varies in length in response to movement ofsaid indicating member, movable weight sensing means for supporting acontainer of material, means for causing movement of said indicatingmember relative to said slot in response to movement of saidweight-sensing means, said indicating member and said readout scalecooperating to indicate on said readout scale the net weight of thematerial within said container when said container of material is placedon said weight-sensing means and to indicate on the same said readoutscale the tare weight of said container when said container of materialis removed from said weight-sensing means, and adjusting means forcausing relative movement between said indicating member and saidreadout scale without changing the weight on said weight-sensing means.

4. A weighing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing has aboxlike configuration and includes an upper wall, and an invertedcuplike said platform projecting upwardly from said top wall.

5. A weighing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said movableindicating member comprises a generally flat shutter, means supportingsaid shutter for movement substantially parallel to said faceplate, atleast two different color zones on said shutter, one of said color zonescooperating with said slot and said readout scale to indicate the netweight of the material within said container, and the other said colorzone cooperating with said slot and said readout scale to indicate thetare weight of said container.

6. A weighing device as defined in claim 5 wherein said means supportingsaid shutter comprises a set of generally parallel arms movable withsaid weight-sensing means.

7. A weighing device as defined in claim 5 including a light sourcepositioned behind said shutter and said slot, and each said color zoneis transparent to provide for illuminated color lines within said slot.

1. An improved weighing device adapted for weighing a material within acontainer, comprising movable weight-sensing means for supporting acontainer of material, a readout scale having progressively increasingweight graduations commencing from a zero position, indicating meanspositioned adjacent said readout scale, means for causing relativemovement between said readout scale and said indicating means inresponse to movement of said weight sensing means, said indicating meansbeing effective to move from said zero position upwardly along saidreadout scale when said container of material is placed on saidweight-sensing means and to indicate directly on said readout scale thenet weight of the material within said container, said indicating meansalso being effective to move from said zero position upwardly along saidreadout scale when said container of material is removed from saidweight-sensing means and to indicate directly on the same said readoutscale the tare weight of said container, and adjusting means for causingrelative movement between said indicating means and said readout scalewithout changing the weight on said weight-sensing means.
 2. A weighingdevice as defined in claim 1 wherein said readout scale has graduationsin ounces for indicating the net and tare weights of a bottle of liquor,a second readout scale extending adjacent the first said readout scaleand also having graduations in ounces, and said indicating meanscooperating with second readout scale for indicating the tare and netweights of a bottle of cordial.
 3. An improved weighing device adaptedfor weighing a material within a container, comprising a housing havinga faceplate, means defining a linear substantially transparent slotwithin said faceplate, a linear readout scale extending adjacent saidslot, a movable indicating member positioned behind said slot and havingmeans for providing within said slot a visual line which varies inlength in response to movement of said indicating member, movable weightsensing means for supporting a container of material, means for causingmovement of said indicating member relative to said slot in response tomovement of said weight-sensing means, said indicating member and saidreadout scale cooperating to indicate on said readout scale the netweight of the material within said container when said container ofmaterial is placed on said weight-sensing means and to indicate on thesame said readout scale the tare weight of said container when saidcontainer of material is removed from said weight-sensing means, andadjusting means for causing relative movement between said indicatingmember and said readout scale without changing the weight on saidweight-sensing means.
 4. A weighing device as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid housing has a boxlike configuration and includes an upper wall, andan inverted cuplike said platform projecting upwardly from said topwall.
 5. A weighing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said movableindicating member comprises a generally flat shutter, means supportingsaid shutter for movement substantially parallel to said faceplate, atleast two different color zones on said shutter, one of said color zonescooperating with said slot and said readout scale to indicate the netweight of the material within said container, and the other said colorzone cooperating with said slot and said readout scale to indicate thetare weight of said container.
 6. A weighing device as defined in claim5 wherein said means supporting said shutter comprises a set ofgenerally parallel arms movable with said weight-sensing means.
 7. Aweighing device as defined in claim 5 including a light sourcepositioned behind said shutter and said slot, and each said color zoneis transparent to provide for illuminated color lines within said slot.